ChirpyQuill

These days it seems I have forgotten how to speak in English, which is kind of surprising given that English has always been my forte. I mean, I consider myself so lucky I was born and brought up in a big metro. I had access to the best education and studying in a convent school only gave me an edge over so many others who didn’t have this privilege. Being an only kid and born in a time when there was no internet, the only entertainment I had besides playing out in the evenings was – Reading. I loved reading and was a voracious reader.  I also remember vividly, solving crossword puzzles with my dad. I think all this helped me immensely in my student days. I wonder then why is it that I cannot comprehend what the Gen Z kids say these days. I mean, it almost seems they are speaking in some alien language which only people of their generation understand.   For instance, I have always thought Ohio was the name of a state in the US. But my daughter, giving me the same look I give h...

September 25th 2015:   "Apnee marzee se kahan apne safar ke hum hain,rukh hawaon ka jidhar ka hai udhar ke hum hain.."  I closed the door behind the car and nervously walked into the train station. Had been to the station many a times before but today was different. I fumbled with the blue ticketing machine looking closely at the transit options like they were written in French. Holding my pink ticket to the newark penn station I waited anxiously for the train to come My mind was consumed with a whirlwind of "what ifs," the first being, What if I’m on the wrong platform?But soon the train chugged into the station and that trivial what if was laid to rest. I knew my directions. Get off at Newark Penn Station, cross over to the PATH, take the train to the WTC, and then walk down Water Street to my destination. "Was it really happening?" I thought still in disbelief, while the trees and houses slipped past the frosted glass train windows. It was my first day ...

 God’s Stepchildren? Just to appreciate how dystopian animal sacrifice to please God is… No human being would ever “enjoy” the spectre of an animal running for his life, thrashing about or screaming in pain when attacked, his skin pierced and violence inflicted on it, while other animals look at the scene of violence and scream in agony at the sight.. intheir own way. Now, under the influence of bad doctrines here is what many of us do.  1. We accept that God made everything and that all are his creation. 2. We snatch back one of His “Creation” make a slit on it’s throat for it to bleed to death in pain, because “God” likes it that way; (take away it’s life that God gave it, and hand his head back to God and thereby show our gratitude to HIM that created the Universe and that animal) In sheer scale of being dystopian/distorted thinking;?how far is this from taking someone’s child’s head off and handing it back to the them to show your gratitude to them?? If for 10 minutes we c...

  R2R2R.. Too many Rs in there? Naah!! that’s how we roll. Rim to Rim to Rim is what a red-blooded adventure really looks like.  Take the most dramatic, unique, visually-imposing, iconic landscape anywhere in the world; combine it with the arduous nature of a 50 mile hike, add 11,000 feet of ascent and descent; block 24 hours from your “oh so busy” schedule; throw in a couple of grown up kids that never want to grow up, put on a tight backpack with necessasities, lace up your dancing shoes and you have the makings of an adventcha!!! one that will get seared onto your memory and soul for eternity.  That’s what happened to us. Really it did, when we decided to hike back and forth from South Rim of Grand Canyon to North Rim and back, in one shot. The basic construct of Rim to Rim to Rim hike is quite simple actually. Start early morning, climb/run down to Phantom Ranch, about 10 miles; refill water, have a bite, make it to Manzanita Ranch about 8 ish miles away, recharge som...

Happy Navratri Folks, nine days of celebration and worship of Her and of a rare and unique occurence in the history of mankind, when an ancient and highly evolved society understood the need to recognize and worship Her in Her nine manifestations.  For highly evolved, secure people who could see the Universe for what it was showing them, It was perhaps easy to bring about their reverence for Her. They could see the most Vital forces of the Universe manifest in her as a mothers, as a wives, as daughters, as artists and even as a fighters to protect Her own. The seers perhaps rejoiced in her glory with eyes closed and the populace, in their daily lives. Needless to say the two came together to dedicate Nine days to Her glory and make this an annual festival. A festival that has no parallel anywhere in the world.  Any society that does not accord respect to it’s women, even revere the feminine force, which is a direct manifestation of the creative energy of the Universe, will rem...

  I LOVE MY MOM I love my mom, though she can be bittersweet, I love my mom, though she doesn't recognize deceit. I love my mom, though she’s stuck in the past I love my mom, though being polished is not her craft.     I love my mom, for how she doesn’t conform, I love my mom, for how she creates her own storm. I love my mom, for how she lets us be free, I love my mom, for how proud she is of me.   I love my mom, even when her words can sting, I love my mom, even when she won’t let me cling. I love my mom, even in every fierce moment, I love my mom, even when she sees me as her opponent     Her love is the blanket that wraps me in warmth, Her thoughts are the wisdom that keeps me from harm. Her inner strength is the driving force of my existence, Though there is a distance between us, Eternal love is what we must discuss.  

    Just like that! Just like that, in an ephemeral moment everything changed! time froze the river turned course the diagnosis was confirmed just like that,  everything that could,  changed Just like that in a whimsical moment everything changed! thunder clapped,  lightening struck their eyes locked! just like that in a beautiful moment everything that could, changed Just like that, in an endless moment everything changed! the ground heaved, vast emptiness convulsed through her being the downdraft wailed in her hapless arms, his limp body, stiffened just like that,  everything that could.. changed! Just like that in a delirious moment everything changed heavens erupted Universe conspired the baby yelped, his first little cry just like that, for her,  everything that could, changed just like that just like that…

  Making of a Frittata  Just like eggs, you get broken ; not once , not twice but a dozen times and whisked like there’s no tomorrow. While holding on to your equanimity, you start to wonder what is happening- you were suppose to be a chicken but then a lot of dust just like baking flour is thrown onto you and you are whisked more - again like as if there is no tomorrow.  You meet a lot of other chopped ones - like onions , peppers , chillies and wonder why it is all being put together. Then some more strings get attached - just like them cheese strings. Meanwhile somewhere, a pan is getting buttered for you, of which you have no idea. That’s not the end - now, in that pan, you are thrown into the heat which feels like a pre-heated oven at 350. With nothing to forfend, you accept your fate and wait to meet your destiny , not for one or two or three but a whole 60 mins. Then, realisation start to dawn upon you, why you had to be broken , why every thing got added to you to...

When we start engaging in a discussion with some people, many a times we walk away frustrated. We walk away with a feeling that nothing was accomplished and the discussion went in an entirely different direction from the stated or understood purpose. Instead of clarifying the issue at hand, we ended up defending something entirely unrelated, mostly ourselves.  Here are a few ways that is done, very purposefully. What Aboutism Shooting the messenger i.e. questioning your intent, motive or casting aspersion at your character itself Making light of the matter, laughing your concern off as trivial Seeking support of others who are politically or socially aligned and then shouting you down or scoffing at you. Emotional blackmail i.e. playing the victim card. Conflating your position with an untenable one and putting words in your mouth This happens in discussions within families and in social scenarios. I will lay out a few examples and share how one could recognize and therefore deal w...

  We all have seen it. From a hill or just from some distance. A line cutting through the foliage, scratching the ground, snaking, meandering across the landscape. Starting from the far side of the creek or from the bottom of the rocky hill, cutting across the jungle floor to eventually vanish into the thicket of trees up yonder. Zigzagging like a drunken sailor. A mile long reptile hugging the forest floor. A Trail. It is pretty too. It must mean something, mustn’t it? It must have a Purpose. A path designed to take one from point A to point B? From here to there or perhaps bring’em from there to here? Both seem plausible enough, for a Purpose. Don’t they? Wait, but who designed the Trail? Who, what, when carved it onto Earth’s chest? It seems like it may have existed for ever. Like life itself! Wait, who, what, when designed Life? Therein may lie our foible. The path may exist afterall, not to take people from here to there. It may exist because people went from here to there. It...